Anchor plate



Feb. 10, 1953 D, F, DOWNING 2,627,637

ANCHOR PLATE Filed May 2, 1949 Patented F eb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 21,627,637 ACHOR PLATE' Denen F.: Downing, Glen Ellyn, nl., assi'gnorl'w A. J Gerrard'& Company, Melrose Park, Ill.,`a' corporation of AIllinois Applicatitn May 2,1949;A serial'N. 9939s v'olaims.' (c1. zi-v'si The invention relates generallyv to anchor plates, and more particularly'to anchory plates for holding the ends" oi'ste'l strapping andthe like.

The invention is particularly applicable for fastening the ends of steel strapping to an object, as for example, the side'or bottom of a freight car, and has among its objects the production of an anchor plate which mayv readily and accurately be secured to a supporting surface by means oi nails, drive screws, or the like, and which may be readily removed from such supporting surface` without removal of the fastening screws.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a platel which isso constructed that it may be iirmly secured by means of drive screws or the like without danger of the plate' shifting on the supporting Vsurface due to vibration, etc., and which insures the proper positioning oi the drive screws so that ready removal of the plate from the mounting surfaceis assured without interference due to the misplacing of the drive screws relative to the plate when the latter is being secured to the mounting surface.

A further object of the invention of such a plate which may be readily engaged with a hammer, and the like, to facilitate the disconnection thereof from the mounting means and supporting surface without injury to the latter.

Many other objects and advantages of theA construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given. l

To this end my invention consists in the'novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly'pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a plane view of an anchor plate embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plate illustrated in Fig. Al; l

Fig. 3 4is a plane nview of a mounted plate and strap;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 4-ll of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plane view of one of the openings for receiving the drive nail or screw.'

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated comprises a substantially rectangular plate, indicated; generallyr numeral lj having an centrally disposed elongated rectangular shaped slot 2 therein ofa"`siafe to receive an end of thel strap to beanchor'ed therewith. One end of the plate l is providedv with an outwardly oiset portion 3,'V and the opposite endV is curved upwardly slightly, as indi-` cated at il.

The plate l is providedV with a".plurality",ofi circular apertures 5 of a diameter slightly',greater than the diameter of the nail vor screwto be ofr the latter being greater than the diameter oi the head of the drive nail or screw employed in fastening the plate to the supporting surface,

so that suchv heads are free to pass through the opening when aligned therewith. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, the centers of the apertures 5 and openings' 'aretso spaced 'thatthefconnecting opening l between the apertureu Sfandbpen? ing E is less in width than the diameter ofA the' aperture 5 to form a pair of oppositelydisposed projections or shoulders 8 wherebya drive screwVV or nail inserted in the aperturev Efis retainedv therein, as the Width of the opening 'l ,is less: than the diameter of the screw or nail. Y The rela-Y tive size of the apertures 5 and openings `6 will' loe dependent upon the physical dimensions of the nails or screws employed.V with the plate.`

In use, the'end of the strapS'is bent back upon itself into the free end inserted in"the"slot"2, thereby hooking the strapon' one edgeof the, plate, following which the plate is 'rolledfoveri a one-half turn to'partially wind thestrap'about When it 'is desired tojdisengage'thestrapijend from the supportingfsuriacethe'oiset edge 3 of theplate maybe struck with"ahammer;r or-the like, toslide `the platerelative tothe `supporting` surface, vwhich action'will shear-the' projections or shoulders 8 adjacent the openings 6,permitting the plate to be moved `sufficiently to positionV the heads H of the mounting nails' or Vscrews within theopenings 6,' and as the latter are larger in diameter than the diameter of the heads H, the' plate `I may be mOVedOutWardlyV'froi/ the supporting surfaceand disengaged fromthe nails# leaving' vthe latterjstandingso'jthat' theymay" face or pulled out. It will be noted that as the end edge 4 of the plate is curved upwardly, a smooth, curved surface is presented as the plate is driven laterally during the disengaging operation, so that the plate will readily slide over the supporting surface without danger of gouging the latter, splintering, or the like, as such surface is normally wooden.

It will also be noted that the drive nails or screws are accurately positioned relative to each other when driven into the supporting surface, so that when the plate is shifted laterally, the heads of the drive nails or screws will all be aligned with their respective opening 6, permitting quick and easy removal of the plate. Obviously, if the projections or shoulders 3 were not provided, one or more of the nails may be partially positioned in the opening 6, so that it would interfere with the lateral movement of the plate and possibly prevent sufcient movement of the plate to permit alignment of all the nail heads with the respective openings, rendering it very difficult to remove the plate from the supporting surface. Also, as movement of the plate relative to the nails is prevented by the projections 3, other than by the application of a sharp force, such as a hammer blow sufficient to shear the projections 8, the plate is efficiently maintained in stationary position Without any danger of shifting and possible release of the plate and strap end. However. while the projections 8 firmly retain the plate in operating position with respect to the drive nails or screws, the plate may be easily removed by several strokes of a hammer applied to the edge 3, as only several thousandths of an inch of metal must normally be sheared by each drive screw or nail during the removal operation. Obviously, if the plate were held in position merely by frictional engagement between the adjacent surface of the screw or nail heads and the upper surface of the plate, vibration, etc., may reduce the locking action to a point where the plate might be free to shift away from and orf of the drive screws, such action, however, in the present instant being completely eliminated by the projections 8; and even if such frictional engagement were substantially eliminated, the projections would offer sufficient resistance to maintain the plate in the desired position.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A detachable anchor plate comprising a substantially at plate member having a relatively small opening therein adapted to receive the shank of a securing means for firmly securing said plate to a supporting surface without shifting, said plate having a relatively large opening therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of such securing means when aligned therewith, said openings being connected by a passageway, the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the small opening and the shank, whereby the plate is adapted to be detached from the surface to which it is affixed by application of a force to the plate causing the passageway to be deformed allow- 4 ing the shank of the securing means to enter the large opening permitting the plate member to be detached from the surface to which it is axed.

2. A detachable anchor plate comprising a substantially flat plate member having a relatively small opening therein adapted to receive the shank of a securing means for securing said plate to a supporting surface, said plate having a relatively large opening therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of such securing means when aligned therewith, said openings being connected by a passageway, the Width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the small opening and the shank, and said plate having an outwardly raised portion at the edge thereof adjacent the relatively large opening for engagement with a suitable tool, whereby the plate is adapted to be detached from the surface to which it is affixed by application of a force to the raised portion causing the plate to move laterally permitting the shank of the securing means to enter the large opening allowing the plate member to be detached from the surface to which it is affixed.

3. A detachable anchor plate comprising a substantially flat plate member having a relatively small opening therein adapted to receive the shank of a securing means for detachably securing said plate to a supporting surface without shifting, said plate having a relatively large opening therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of such securing means when aligned therewith, said openings being connected by a passageway, the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the small opening and the shank, said plate having an outwardly raised portion at the edge thereof adjacent the relatively large opening for engagement with a suitable tool and provided with an inclined lower surface adjacent the opposite end of said plate to facilitate sliding movement of the plate relative to such a mounting surface and upon relative movement of the plate with respect to the shank permitting the shank to move from the small opening into the large opening.

4. A detachable anchor plate comprising a substantially at plate member having a relatively small substantially circular opening therein adapted to receive the shank of a securing means for detachably securing said plate to a supporting surface without shifting, said plate having a relatively large substantially circular` opening therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of such a securing means when aligned therewith, said openings intersecting with the distance between their respective centers' being greater than the radius of the large opening and less than the sum of the radii of the large and the small openings, whereby the plate is adapted to be detached from the surface to which it is attached by the application of a force to the plate causing the plate to move laterally permitting the shank of the securing means to enter the large opening for removal of the plate from the securing means.

5. A detachable anchor plate comprising a flat plate member having a plurality of relatively small openings therein, adapted to receive the Shanks of securing means for removably mounting said plate to a supporting surface, said plate having a plurality of relatively large openings therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of the securing means when aligned therewith, each of said large openings intersecting a respective small opening with the width of the passageway so formed between intersecting openings being less than the diameter of the small opening for firmly securing the plate in position, the respective openings of each intersecting pair being similarly positioned with respect to the other corresponding openings, said plate having an outwardly1 raised portion at the end thereof adjacent the relative large openings for engagement with a suitable tool, whereby the plate is adapted to be detached from the surface to which it is secured by application of a force to the raised portion causing the plate to move laterally permitting the Shanks of the securing means to deform the passageways allowing the shanks to enter their respective large openings for the detachment of the plate from the surface to which it is aflixed.

6. A detachable anchor plate comprising a nat plate member having a plurality of relatively small openings therein, each adapted to receive the shank of a securing means for mounting said plate to a supporting surface, said plate having a plurality of relatively large openings therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of the securing means when aligned therewith, each of said large openings intersecting a respective small opening with the width of the passageway so formed between intersecting openings being less than the diameter of the small opening and the shank of the securing means whereby the pase sageway may be readily deformed, the respective openings of each intersecting pair being similarly positioned with respect to the other corresponding openings, said plate having an outwardly raised portion at the end thereof adjacent the relatively large openings for engagement with a suitable tool whereby upon an application of a force, the passageway is deformed permitting relative movement of the anchor plate with respect to each shank, and provided with an upwardly curved lower surface adjacent the opposite end of said plate to facilitate sliding movement of the plate relative to such mounting surface.

'7. A detachable mounting adapted for removably attaching a strap-like member to a supporting surface comprising a relatively thin memer provided with an opening adapted to receive the strap-like member and assemble the straplike member to the mounting and having a relatively small opening therein adapted to receive the shank of a headed mounting element, with the head thereof overlying the adjacent face of said member for securing the latter to a supporting surface, said member having a relatively large opening therein of a size to permit free passage therethrough of the head of such mounting element when aligned therewith, said openings being connected by a passageway, the width of which is less than the corresponding dimension of the small opening and the shank providing a deformable passageway, for normally retaining the mounting element in said relatively small opening and upon application of a force applied to the mounting, the passageway being deformed allowing relative lateral movement of the mounting with respect to the shank so that the mounting and the strap-like member may be detached from the supporting surface upon the detachable mounting being detached from head of the mounting element as the mounting element is positioned in the large opening.

DONELL F. DOWNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 323,393 Bullard Aug. 4, 1885 532,223 Uhlmann Jan. 8, 1895 604,896 Garnett May 31, 1898 1,822,648 Evans Sept. 8, 1931 2,032,591 Pride Mar. 3, 1936 2,246,359 Jelinek et al. June 17, 1941 2,367,109 Fay Jan. 9, 1945 2,458,287 Moon Jan. 4, 1949 

